TouchMyApps » Musichttp://www.touchmyapps.com
All Things iPhone and iPad for those who like to Touch. iOS App reviews, News, New Apps, Price Drops and App Gone FreeMon, 02 Mar 2015 03:32:17 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.5Songsterr for iOS: Learn to play that favorite song on the Guitar with your iDevicehttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2013/09/20/songsterr-for-ios-learn-to-play-that-favorite-song-on-the-guitar-with-your-idevice/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2013/09/20/songsterr-for-ios-learn-to-play-that-favorite-song-on-the-guitar-with-your-idevice/#commentsFri, 20 Sep 2013 21:59:56 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=73130Over the years, learning to play songs on the guitar by way of tabulature (or tab) have certainly become more interactive. What used to be an exercise of finding books and sheets of music for your favorite songs, chords and tabs rapidly made their way onto the web. Nowadays, dozens of sites host extensive libraries … Read more]]>

Over the years, learning to play songs on the guitar by way of tabulature (or tab) have certainly become more interactive. What used to be an exercise of finding books and sheets of music for your favorite songs, chords and tabs rapidly made their way onto the web. Nowadays, dozens of sites host extensive libraries of tabs to help guitar players of all levels perfect that catchy riff or solo. One such site is Songsterr, which started back in 2008. Besides being an archive of over 500,000 tabs for the guitar, bass and drums, it’s highly unique in that it’s also an online tab player that lets users follow along each tab as the song (with audio) is being played. The Songsterr app for the iPhone and iPad works much like its web counterpart and practicing tabs on-the-go doesn’t get much better than this.

For those who’ve read tab or used a tab player online before, you’ll be in familar territory with the Songsterr app. Not to worry if you’ve never tried learning songs off tabs before. The Songsterr site has a great “How to Read Guitar Tab” page that’ll bring you up to speed in no time. Tabs and chords are primarily filtered by Guitar, Bass and Drums, and songs can be found via one of five sections: Popular, Tags, Favorites (user added), History and Search.

Once a song is found and selected, the tab page will be displayed along with musical notations like time signature, any pull-offs, hammer-ons, slides, vibratos and so forth. The magic then happens when you tap the play button, which starts the song and you can hear and see the notes that are being played on the tab in real time. This is aided by a green marker that automatically scrolls above the tab notes and you can easily follow along with you guitar or other instrument.

Multiple instruments are supported with Songsterr, so you won’t just hear the guitar being played as you’re playing along. Depending on the song, there could be multiple tracks. For instance, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody has more than 10 tracks (distorition/overdriven Guitars, Bass, Bright Acoustic Piano, Drums etc) and you can select each one to view their own individual tab. There’s even a Solo mode that will mute all other instruments except the one currently selected. Coupled with the half speed option and loop feature (playback selected measures repeatedly), you can finally nail down those seemingly impossible solos.

Chord view for “Sweet Child O’ Mine” with different variations for D chord

If reading tabs is not your cup of tea or you simply just want to strum along with a guitar, the Chords section (if available for that particular number) will display lyrics and chords to the song. Each chord letter can be tapped to reveal a chord diagram (with multiple finger/fret positions), meaning you’ll have all the visual aid needed right your fingertips.

The app does require internet access to pull all the tab data from the Songsterr servers to your iPhone or iPad, though favoriting a song will keep it right on your device. In other words, offline access when no internet is available. The cache size can be adjusted in the settings area, ranging from 50Mb to 1Gb. And being a universal app, it’ll run on both the iPhone and iPad. Naturally, it’s much easier to use on the iPad/iPad mini with it’s bigger screen and more real estate for multiple lines of tabs being displayed at one time.

With regards to song selection, there are over 500,000 tabs available and chances are you’ll find the artist/song you’re looking for. Songsterr is like the Wikipedia of guitar tabs; users can contribute new tabs and even make edits to existing ones. The major differences between the web version and the iOS app is that the web flashed based player is more elaborate in that you can enable Solo/Mute and adjust the volume on multiple tracks. Whereas with the app, you can only “Solo” with one instrument at a time.

Songsterr on the Web

Pricing wise, the Songsterr app follows a subscription model and is free to download. Initially it’s really just a demo of sorts as it’ll only play the initial part of any song. To fully unlock the app, it’ll cost $4.99 per month, using iTunes’ own recurring subscription payment system. Meanwhile Songsterr on the web is completely free to use (including the entire library of songs, albeit with limited features), and there’s Songsterr Plus, which costs $9.90 per month and includes all the extras like Solo, Tempo/Volume control, Loop and more right from your web browser.

Playing “The Unforgiven” on the iPhone

Songsterr for the iPhone and iPad is a great tool for all levels of guitarists. It’s one of the best apps out there on iOS for learning tab and playing along with your guitar or bass. It’s not the cheapest option mind you as it’ll set you back $60/year, but it’s worth the investment if you’re serious about your tabbing and want access on your iDevice. I have encountered the occasional crashing when slowing down songs and I do wish that subscribing to the app will unlock Songsterr Plus as well on the web (you do get one month free of Plus membership), but overall I’ve really enjoyed taking my 2 Ovation guitars out of semi-retirement and learning some new riffs and solos with the app.

On a final note, if you are using Songsterr with an iPhone, the Guitar Sidekick should come in handy while reading tab.

What’s to like:

Huge catalog of tabs for guitar, bass and drums

Guitar engine sounds good

Half speed and Solo modes

Learn different parts of song depending on instrument

Favorite songs to access them offline

What’s not to like:

$4.99/month will add up over time

Doesn’t transpose chords

Occasional crashing

Subscription doesn’t include Songsterr Plus on the web

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2013/09/20/songsterr-for-ios-learn-to-play-that-favorite-song-on-the-guitar-with-your-idevice/feed/1Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience can now be streamed on iTuneshttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2013/03/12/justin-timberlakes-2020-experience-can-now-be-streamed-on-itunes/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2013/03/12/justin-timberlakes-2020-experience-can-now-be-streamed-on-itunes/#commentsTue, 12 Mar 2013 16:18:40 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=72143Justin Timberlake’s highly anticipated album The 20/20 Experience drops next week on March 19th and if you simply can’t wait to hear JT’s falsetto vocals, iTunes is now streaming the album in its entirety. Justin Timberlake rekindles his love affair with music on The 20/20 Experience. JT brings back the sexy synergy with production gurus Timbaland and … Read more]]>

Justin Timberlake rekindles his love affair with music on The 20/20 Experience. JT brings back the sexy synergy with production gurus Timbaland and J-Roc — “Tunnel Vision,” “Spaceship Coupe” and “Don’t Hold the Wall” are at once primal and futuristic pop excursions. He pours his falsetto into soul (“That Girl”) and over Latin beats (“Let the Groove In”). The 20/20 Experience shows Justin in full focus, reunited with his first love and it feels so good.

The full stream is an hour and ten minutes long and can be done via iTunes or on your iPad. Pre-orders for $10.99 have already begun and early birds will be able to download the new song “Mirrors” now.

The official music video of ”Suit & Tie” feat. Jay-Z

Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z perform “Suit & Tie” on SNL

Justin performs “Mirrors” on SNL

[Huffington Post]
… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2013/03/12/justin-timberlakes-2020-experience-can-now-be-streamed-on-itunes/feed/0Santa Rockstar in Review – Heavy Metal Christmas Cheerhttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/12/17/santa-rockstar-in-review-heavy-metal-christmas-cheer/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/12/17/santa-rockstar-in-review-heavy-metal-christmas-cheer/#commentsMon, 17 Dec 2012 14:24:21 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=71366There’s something to be said about holiday themed games, and that’s by and large I don’t care for them. When it comes to Christmas these days the games usually seem to revolve around delivering presents or destroying renegade elves, both of which might be good for one or two variants apiece. Now don’t get me … Read more]]>

There’s something to be said about holiday themed games, and that’s by and large I don’t care for them. When it comes to Christmas these days the games usually seem to revolve around delivering presents or destroying renegade elves, both of which might be good for one or two variants apiece. Now don’t get me wrong – Santa Rockstar is still about saving Christmas, but at least the game format is one that hasn’t been touched so far in the holiday makeover realm. Ironically enough I’m not really a big fan of Tap Tap Revenge style music games, but in this case the theme and choice of music seems to make all the difference in the world.

If you’ve never played this type of game before, basically you need to tap one of four buttons when a block of the corresponding color comes down that row. The playing field is laid out like a guitar fretboard (don’t worry, I didn’t know that term either), so I guess it’s supposed to make you feel like you’re playing a guitar. It doesn’t. At any rate, the idea is that the blocks are moving with the beat, so if you have good rhythm you should do well. Yep, as you might have guessed this game is all about timing, since the blocks have to be in a certain location before you tap the corresponding button. Too early and you can at least try again, but if you tap too late it counts as a miss. If you do that often enough you’ll lose the round and have to start over.

The game is divided into 5 locations with 3 levels each, and there are two additional locations that you can unlock either with IAP or if you do well in the game (the more challenging of the two requires you to get 5 stars on every single level playing at the hard difficulty setting). Thankfully you earn money along the way that lets you buy new guitars and better sound equipment which in turn give you boosts to things like score and number of allowable mistakes before it affects your bonus multiplier. The guitars are a permanent boost, while the other bonuses only last for either one or three levels, depending on how much you want to spend. You can also unlock three bonus characters, which come at a rather steep price tag – in game coins, mind you.

Control is simply a matter of tapping. Of course when you tap is the key to success, but the game is very responsive, so if you make a mistake it’s only because you just don’t have the timing right. A lot of newer rhythm games try to introduce everything from swipes to holds to shaking the device into the mix, which can certainly add some variety, but once in a while the basic approach is just as entertaining. As it is the game gets challenging enough when you get into the medium and hard difficulty levels and you have multiple rows to tap at the same time. I actually haven’t tried hard yet, but I’m struggling as it is with the medium level.

The visuals are pretty stunning, which is kind of ironic since for the most part you won’t get to appreciate them as you’re concentrating on the task at hand. Thankfully every once in a while there’s a lull in the action so you can appreciate Santa and his reindeer band travelling along in their decked out sleigh in 3D rendered goodness. I’d love to see the characters in a game where they would act as more than a backdrop. There isn’t much in the way of sound effects except for a grating noise that lets you know you missed a note. The music… well, who doesn’t love a good Christmas riff? Granted these particular mixes have a heavy metal slant to them, but it’s amazing how well Christmas songs adapt to that particular style of music. I was just happy that I was familiar with most of the songs, because at least I stood a chance of staying with the beat.

In the end, Santa Rockstar managed to take two things I’m not fond of – Tap Tap Revenge style gameplay and Christmas themed games – and combine them into something I actually enjoy. I’m not ecstatic over the game, but there’s certainly not much to gripe about. It would be nice if there were more upgrades that weren’t one time boosts, but otherwise this is a simple, well rounded rhythm game that’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/12/17/santa-rockstar-in-review-heavy-metal-christmas-cheer/feed/0djay for iPhone now free for a limited timehttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/11/14/djay-for-iphone-now-free-for-a-limited-time/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/11/14/djay-for-iphone-now-free-for-a-limited-time/#commentsWed, 14 Nov 2012 20:18:58 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=70775To help promote vjay, an iPad app that lets you mix and scratch your favorite music videos, algoriddim is now offering their highly popular djay for iPhone as a free download. First launched in 2011 for $9.99, djay is a great deejaying app that’s considered among the best in its genre. djay transforms your iPhone or iPod touch … Read more]]>

To help promote vjay, an iPad app that lets you mix and scratch your favorite music videos, algoriddim is now offering their highly popular djay for iPhone as a free download. First launched in 2011 for $9.99, djay is a great deejaying app that’s considered among the best in its genre.

djay transforms your iPhone or iPod touch into a full-fledged portable DJ system and seamlessly integrates with your music library, giving you direct access to all your favorite tracks and playlists. A hyper-realistic touchscreen interface and ultra-low latency converge to offer you a true professional mixing experience, right in the palm of your hand. You can perform live, record mixes on-the-go, or enable Automix mode and let djay mix your favorite playlist from your music library automatically.

Whether you’re an aspiring DJ or a complete noob, djay offers plenty of features that’ll make you sound like a pro. They include Automatic beat & tempo detection, Auto-Cut Scratching (it automatically applies the rhythmic pattern song currently being played to your scratches in real-time), Mixer and EQ controls and much more.

If you’ve got music on your iPhone, and want to start mixing some beats, now’s your chance to grab the app for free. Hurry though as the offer’s only for a limited time.

Here’s a video of djay for iPad, which will give you even more turntable space to work your magic:

Description

★ To celebrate the launch of our new app VJAY we are giving you our worldwide hit DJAY for FREE – LIMITED TIME ONLY. To learn more about our new app please visit: http://www.algoriddim.com/vjay-iphone ★

☆ iPhone App of the Year 2011 Runner-Up in Japan ☆

Ready to rock your next party? The premier DJ app and winner of the 2011 Apple Design Award for iPad now fits in your pocket: introducing djay for iPhone & iPod touch!
——————————-

djay transforms your iPhone or iPod touch into a full-fledged portable DJ system and seamlessly integrates with your music library, giving you direct access to all your favorite tracks and playlists. A hyper-realistic touchscreen interface and ultra-low latency converge to offer you a true professional mixing experience, right in the palm of your hand. You can perform live, record mixes on-the-go, or enable Automix mode and let djay mix your favorite playlist from your music library automatically.

With a simple rotation of your iPhone or iPod touch, djay’s intuitive dual turntable setup beautifully morphs to each turntable individually, allowing you to beat-match, adjust EQs, loop, and cue with even greater precision and control.

With unprecedented ease-of-use and innovative multi-touch mixing features, djay for iPhone & iPod touch brings DJing to the next level, offering a unique experience for beginners and professionals alike—all in your pocket.

NEW: Griffin DJ Cable designed exclusively for djay’s pre-cueing feature now available at the Apple Store or from the Griffin web site.

☆ iTunes Match Hint:
To play a track stored in iCloud with djay, please download it first by clicking the iCloud download button next to the track in the Music (iPod) app. You can also download entire playlists.

☆ DRM Protected Songs Hint:
djay supports the vast majority of audio files, such as MP3, M4A, AAC, WAV, AIF etc. including all songs available from the iTunes Store. However, songs purchased from the iTunes Store before 2009 were DRM protected and cannot be accessed by djay. If you still own such older files, you can upgrade these to DRM free (iTunes Plus) via iTunes.

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/11/14/djay-for-iphone-now-free-for-a-limited-time/feed/0Smule releases Sing! karaoke app for iPhonehttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/08/08/smule-releases-sing-karaoke-app-for-iphone/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/08/08/smule-releases-sing-karaoke-app-for-iphone/#commentsWed, 08 Aug 2012 22:04:50 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=69300Several weeks after the release of AutoRap on the App Store, Smule is now calling out to all the karaoke fans out there with their latest app Sing!. Much like other Smule apps that heavily rely on social networking, Sing! lets you choose from over 130 musical hits from various genres (Rolling in the Deep, Boyfriend, Call … Read more]]>

Several weeks after the release of AutoRap on the App Store, Smule is now calling out to all the karaoke fans out there with their latest app Sing!. Much like other Smule apps that heavily rely on social networking, Sing! lets you choose from over 130 musical hits from various genres (Rolling in the Deep, Boyfriend, Call Me Maybe etc) for you to sing along. Your performance can then be shared with a friend (if so desired), at which point he/she can add their voice to the track and create some sweet sounding harmonies. Don’t exactly fancy yourself a crooner? Not to worry. Thanks to the ”voice enhancement technology” and special voice filters, you may not sound half bad after belting out your favorite tunes. The app is free to download, though most of the songs in-app will cost you $0.99. See how Sing! works in a video trailer after the break.

Similar to the premise behind Sing!, here’s a video of singers paying tribute to victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami using Smule’s Glee Karaoke app. A year after the song was first shared and others invited to join in, nearly 4,000 singers have added their voices to the song (Lean on Me).

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/08/08/smule-releases-sing-karaoke-app-for-iphone/feed/0Unleash your inner Eminem with Smule’s AutoRap apphttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/07/17/unleash-your-inner-eminem-with-smules-autorap-app/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/07/17/unleash-your-inner-eminem-with-smules-autorap-app/#commentsTue, 17 Jul 2012 17:49:25 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=69027Fans of Smule’s trippy musical iOS apps (Magic Piano, I Am T-Pain, Ocarina and MadPad) will now be able to make more sweet music in the rap category, thanks to the release of AutoRap. A creation born out of the merger between Smule and Khush, AutoRap lets even the most rap-challenged individuals sound like an aspiring rapper. Using a patent-pending “rappification” technology, the … Read more]]>

Fans of Smule’s trippy musical iOS apps (Magic Piano, I Am T-Pain, Ocarina and MadPad) will now be able to make more sweet music in the rap category, thanks to the release of AutoRap. A creation born out of the merger between Smule and Khush, AutoRap lets even the most rap-challenged individuals sound like an aspiring rapper. Using a patent-pending “rappification” technology, the app features a Talk Mode that turns your ordinary speech into unique sounding rap songs. With Rap Mode, you can show off your rap skills by following the lyrics that scroll across the screen. Rest assured, first timers will have their flow corrected to “snap” their syllables back to song’s beat. AutoRap (free universal download) starts you off with some Freestyle sounds, and premium songs from popular artists can be purchased via IAP. Time to watch 8 Mile again before turning the iPhone into an all-out beatbox. Videos of AutoRap in action after the break.

Description

With Smule’s patent-pending “rappification” technology, AutoRap maps the syllables of your speech to any beat, creating a unique rap every time.

TALK MODE:
Talk into the app, and AutoRap magically morphs your speech into a legit rap. Create your own original rap songs with Freestyle Beats, or use Premium Songs from artists like Snoop Dogg and Nicki Minaj, to AutoRap with the songs you know and love.

RAP MODE:
Switch to Rap Mode and flaunt your skillz by rapping along to your favorite songs, following the lyrics that scroll across the screen. AutoRap will correct your flow, snapping your syllables to the rhythmic grid of the underlying beat.
*** HEADPHONES RECOMMENDED FOR RAP MODE***

SHARE:
Now go share your creations with your friends via email, Facebook or Twitter. Sing them a happy birthday they’ll never forget, or give ‘em the lowdown on the sandwich you ate for lunch.

JUDGE:
And don’t forget to show some love for your homies to help them reach the Top Rappers spot.

Features:
- Choose between talk or rap mode.
- Pick your beat from freestyle or premium sounds.
- Beautiful visualizations match the beat of your raps.
- Don’t like the beat, just re-AutoRap it!
- Share your creations via email, Facebook and Twitter
- Listen to the Top Rappers and support them with loves.
- Come back frequently to earn additional plays.

EXPLANATION OF PLAYS:
AutoRap offers you the ability to choose between Freestyle and Premium beats, using “Plays”. Plays allow you to try out any song in the catalogue, without being stuck with any one song. Each time you create an AutoRap, or Re-AutoRap, with a Freestyle or Premium beat, the corresponding Play Balance gets deducted by 1 Play. We give you a Starter Pack of free Freestyle Plays so you can try them out!

ALWAYS FREE:
We offer two songs that are ALWAYS FREE – “Turkey Burgers” and “OneOneOne” – so you can use the app anytime you want completely free, without spending any money, ever.

EARN PLAYS:
We also allow you to earn Freestyle and Premium Plays.

NOTE: Headphones recommended for maximum enjoyment.

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/07/17/unleash-your-inner-eminem-with-smules-autorap-app/feed/0Mad Acorn in Review – Secret Agent Squirrels With Rhythm?http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/06/17/mad-acorn-in-review-secret-agent-squirrels-with-rhythm/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/06/17/mad-acorn-in-review-secret-agent-squirrels-with-rhythm/#commentsSun, 17 Jun 2012 14:55:55 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=68615There was a time when I was really into the original Diablo, and like many players I thought I was going to wear out my mouse with all the button mashing. Mad Acorn is that game for my iPod Touch. In fact, sometimes I get worried that I’m going to leave a finger indentation on … Read more]]>

There was a time when I was really into the original Diablo, and like many players I thought I was going to wear out my mouse with all the button mashing. Mad Acorn is that game for my iPod Touch. In fact, sometimes I get worried that I’m going to leave a finger indentation on the screen where my thumb is most active. Then I forget about my concerns as the next wave of bad guys roll by. I’ve never been a fan of Tap Tap Revenge style games, but when a game in an established genre tightly integrates music into the mechanics, that’s a whole different story. Not to mention that Mad Acorn is the cream of the crop in that regards.

You play a secret agent squirrel trying to thwart some nasty bad guys, and while you don’t have much in the way of fancy gadgets you do have a couple of things going for you: some mad skillz and a keen sense of rhythm. You might say it’s your job to beat some heads in, but I’d probably get fired for such a bad pun. All you have to worry about is tapping the screen, but you have to do it at just the right time to perform the necessary actions like hitting, kicking and jumping over things. What action you perform is simply based on what obstacle is in your way.

The game is proximity based, so the closer the object is when you strike, the better your score. Too close and you get hit, losing a heart. If they are too far away nothing happens. The one exception is if you happen to tap on a beat with no enemy near by this is considered a “hidden” beat, and you’ll actually get points for that. To rack up your score you’ll want to make sure you are getting “greats” and “yeahs” with your timing, because successive rankings at those two levels build up chains that earn you crazy amounts of points. Levels are ultimately scored with an A, B or C, which earns you 3, 2 or 1 stars respectively. Unfortunately there is nothing to indicate what you need to do to move to the next score level.

The game currently has 16 levels spread over 4 cases. That might not seem like a lot, but it really depends on how obsessive you are about scoring. There are 30 achievements to earn, so the combination of that and the desire to get A’s on each level could keep you busy for quite a while. Additionally, though, at the end of each level you’re given a percent complete for finding hidden beats. If you really want a lofty goal, try getting 100% of the hidden beats on all 16 levels.

I have to admit that when I first started playing the game I didn’t think much of the graphics. However, after seeing some of these levels many times, I’m really starting to appreciate the hand drawn visuals. The backgrounds are pretty detailed, everything is well animated, and there are certainly some interesting character designs. The cut scenes are illustrated with roughly drawn comic book like panels, which are probably the most disappointing part of the visuals.

I love the sound effects, and while normally I’d mention that it seems like the bad guys are awfully quiet, it doesn’t really matter in this case. The voiceover is great as well. The music, on the other hand, is not something I’d normally listen to. That said however, in the context of the game it’s perfect.

It’s not like I didn’t already have an inkling, but I’ve learned without a doubt from Mad Acorn that I have no rhythm. Still, I’m going to go out on a limb and say this game ranks in the top three rhythm games I have ever played. I’m won’t say which position it takes or what the other two are, but suffice it to say Mad Acorn is quite awesome. I just want to know where to send the bill when I need to buy a new screen.

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/06/17/mad-acorn-in-review-secret-agent-squirrels-with-rhythm/feed/0Watch Paul McCartney Performance Live (for Free) via iTunes on Feb 9thhttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/02/08/watch-paul-mccartney-performance-live-and-for-free-via-itunes-on-feb-9th/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/02/08/watch-paul-mccartney-performance-live-and-for-free-via-itunes-on-feb-9th/#commentsWed, 08 Feb 2012 16:55:02 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=66301Paul McCartney’s latest album Kisses On the Bottom released 2 days ago, and to celebrate, the iconic singer-songwriter will be giving a free Live Performance via iTunes on Thursday, Feb 9 at 7pm PST. From Guitar World: Paul McCartney will commemorate the release of his new album, Kisses On The Bottom, with a free streaming performance that takes place 7 … Read more]]>

Paul McCartney will commemorate the release of his new album, Kisses On The Bottom, with a free streaming performance that takes place 7 p.m. PST Thursday, February 9, from Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, where much of the new album was recorded.

Fans can watch the show for free through iTunes.

Kisses On The Bottom, which comes out Tuesday, February 7, via Hear Music/Concord, is a collection of standards McCartney grew up listening to, plus two new McCartney compositions — “My Valentine” and “Only Our Hearts” (which feature guest turns, respectively, from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder).

Recorded with the aid of Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall and her band — who will back McCartney for the Capitol live-stream event –Kisses On The Bottom is a personal journey through songs that, in some cases, a young McCartney first heard his father perform on the family piano.

Come 7pm PST tomorrow, you can catch the live stream on your computer (on iTunes) with this link, or if you have an Apple TV, you can enjoy the performance right from the comforts on your big screen TV. Watch Paul McCartney talk about Kisses on the Bottom in more detail below.

[Guitar World via 9to5Mac]
… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/02/08/watch-paul-mccartney-performance-live-and-for-free-via-itunes-on-feb-9th/feed/0MF Player Pro-radical HiFi in Review – Certainly radicalhttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/02/03/mf-player-pro-radical-hifi-in-review-certainly-radical/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/02/03/mf-player-pro-radical-hifi-in-review-certainly-radical/#commentsFri, 03 Feb 2012 15:48:48 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=66234If you want radical sound from your iDevice, you could pop in Iggy Pop’s New Values. Or, if you can’t keep pace with Iggy, why not check out MF Player Pro-radical HiFi. It is a ‘radical’ break from the traditional clean-cut – and often labelled ‘sterile’ – Apple sound. It’s an HiFi app in every … Read more]]>

If you want radical sound from your iDevice, you could pop in Iggy Pop’s New Values. Or, if you can’t keep pace with Iggy, why not check out MF Player Pro-radical HiFi. It is a ‘radical’ break from the traditional clean-cut – and often labelled ‘sterile’ – Apple sound. It’s an HiFi app in every sense of the word, and it’s radical in all others. The most obviously radical feature of MF Player is its most radical price, a gnarly 1.999 pennies. And that’s the clincher, really.

But let’s not spoil the rave yet, my party animals. There is praise to get through first. Namely, there are too few apps that are seriously designed for iDevice audiophiles. EQu has been a favourite of mine till now, and Equalizer (TMA Review) has grown up to be nearly perfect. MF player sports some of the lovely effects of a parametric EQ, but also adds its own flavour. While there isn’t a parametric EQ built in, the effects of MF Player are only really attainable by very very expensive EQ hardware, or impeccable settings.

MF player sports live audio positioning settings: SPEECH, Hi-Fi, and LIVE. These aren’t the Sony sort that suck out the highs or lows and turn your ear drums inside out in emulating sitting next to a party of drunk forty year olds at a Depeche Mode concert, baptising themselves with the remains of cheap beer and the chocolate bars they snuck in.

No.

The positioning settings themselves are pretty interesting. I expected the SPEECH setting to boost vocal frequencies, HiFi to take a pretty straight path for music lovers, and LIVE to mess with bass and treble enough that, as Radsone says, vehicle and docking system speakers sound ‘better’. I was only partially correct. Strangely, I found that SPEECH was the most natural setting, differing little if at all from stock MF player sound. Hifi rides the middle ground surely, but it introduces more spice to the high end, and LIVE is the most spicy.

I’ll explain the spice later.

Both the twenty dollar version and the free version of MF Player are easy-breezy to control. You can scrobble, change volume, shift tracks back and forth, repeat, shuffle, and play and pause from the main screen just like the Music app. To turn effects off and on, tap the museflow logo under the title bar. It’s generally easy.

Here’s where my detractor voice cuts in. Similar to Equalizer, you must add songs or albums or playlists from your music library through Apple’s standard song browser that games sometimes use. In other words, this music app doesn’t directly access your music library. WTF? I would much rather not have to go through the extra step. Radsone, you CAN let the app access the device’s library from the start. This is a music app.

If you quit the app from the springboard, music fades to black rather than lurching to a stop. Nice touch. What isn’t nice, however, is when you want to pause a song, go back to the beginning, and have a bit of peace and quiet before the music starts again. Every time you hit back, or scrobble back to the start, music starts to play again whether or not the pause/play button is pressed or not. WTF? It’s annoying and contrary to the interface of every piece of audio equipment I’ve used, both kitschy and refined.

The other problem is that MF player eats up battery. MF Player probably eats battery about twice as fast, maybe faster, than the stock Music app. If you’ve happily been using Equalizer or EQu for a while, however, you’ll know that this just comes with the territory. Sound enhancing software and tiny batteries are always at odds with one another.

But that’s just silly talk.

The big question that any self-respecting audiophile should have ask is: is MF Player worth it? I’ve still not figured that one out. The basic difference in sound is distortion. (Oh yes, here comes the spice.) MF Player does wonky things to the audio signal from about 300Hz and above. The overall effect is a brighter, more exciting sound, one that will have its fans. Reviews in iTunes (who wrote this stuff?), and indeed, Radsone’s own marketing page tout MF Player’s ability to separate instruments. Sure, it’s a psychoacoustic world we digital audiophiles live in, so why not? The skinny here is that the twenty bones basically go into an audio mask. That’s all.

There isn’t any more space around instruments than there ever was before. Radsone didn’t re-record your albums for you, or hire better musicians. The did compress certain frequencies, however, and enhance others. That’s it. It may be enough for you. Table pepper is cheap, and does wonders for mashed potatoes. Chilly peppers cost more punch harder in the gut. Tweaking certain frequencies (adding chilly pepper) does emphasise different things in music. That’s probably why (according to Radsone) Korean radio stations (many of whom go out for spicy food for lunch) adopted Radsone technology in their broadcasts. Good for them.

Here you can see the 'purdy square waves on my busy desktop. On the left is the SPEECH setting, on the right, is the LIVE setting, and in the middle is the HiFi setting. Speech deteriorates the square wave the least, and HiFi, the most. Evidently, the one in the middle is supposed to sound the best. Welcome to psychoacoustics

The final bit of vitriol is this: with MF player, you have OFF/ON settings, and three levels of ‘better’ to throw at your music. For 20$. Not really a problem from a business perspective, but it feels like a much cheaper app. Maybe it should be. Maybe Radsone should think of lowering the price. I might cap my bottle of vitriol.

For me, computer says no.

Radsone are asking at least ten dollars too much for what Han Solo would describe as ‘tricks and nonsense’. I don’t like to get down on apps for their price; perceived worth is different for every person. The problem for me may be that my headphones are good; they don’t need more spice. Still, if you feel that there isn’t enough sparkle in the high end, and you, you could fork over 20$. Radsone will thank you.

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/02/03/mf-player-pro-radical-hifi-in-review-certainly-radical/feed/5Naturespace updated with new tracks and featureshttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/01/11/naturespace-updated-with-new-tracks-and-features/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/01/11/naturespace-updated-with-new-tracks-and-features/#commentsWed, 11 Jan 2012 14:16:16 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=64023A little over a year ago I started using Naturespace: Relax Meditate Escape Sleep (TMA Review) – one of the best ambient nature sounds apps out there. Unique in the way it makes a fully engrossing surround sound experience even through the stock Apple earbuds, it has saved my nerve endings from countless deaths. And … Read more]]>

A little over a year ago I started using Naturespace: Relax Meditate Escape Sleep (TMA Review) – one of the best ambient nature sounds apps out there. Unique in the way it makes a fully engrossing surround sound experience even through the stock Apple earbuds, it has saved my nerve endings from countless deaths. And as we all know – nerves don’t regenerate. Well, I’m glad to say that shortly before Christmas (yes, I Know I’m a bit late on this but still) the developers informed me that they’d just rolled out a massive update, not only making an additional 15 tracks available for purchase but a few nifty features in the catalogue as well.

In my review my biggest concern was that the individual tracks seemed a bit expensive, especially considering there was no way to test them out beforehand. Of course the later added user review feature helped a bit. That said, to each his own and it’s difficult to rely on other people’s tastes.

Taking all of this into consideration with the latest update, the devs added a Visitor’s Pass (available as a separate product or unlocked automatically once you buy 5 tracks), which allows you to download a shorter non-looping preview versions of any track in the catalogue, giving you a taste before making you hand out the dough.

Additionally collections have been made available for sale along with Limited Time deals, allowing for further savings on acquiring tracks in the catalogue.

Official “What’s new” and app desciription just below. But seriously – it’s FREE so go download it now if you haven’t already.

What’s New

• Provides access to the 15 latest Naturespace releases
• Offers collections of tracks at a huge savings over buying them individually
• Ability to purchase a Visitors Pass, which unlocks previews of the entire Naturespace catalog
• System performance and efficiency enhancements

App Decription

Naturespace Holographic Audio provides an audiophile-class listening experience to all headphone users, including earbuds. Our 3-D ambiences transport the listener like nothing else on the planet. It is a truly profound new way of listening to the natural world.

It’s not just about nature’s sound, it’s about nature’s space. All 3 dimensions (including height) are accurately reproduced, providing the listener with a true “being there” experience. The impact that spatially accurate outdoor sound has on the brain is astounding; it is immensely relaxing and entertaining. Whether you take a 5 minute vacation to a Hawaiian morning sunrise, or an extended stay underneath a powerful thunderstorm, Naturespace provides the brain with the sense of openness and vastness that is so important to a balanced state of well-being. Naturespace is a spectacular catalyst for creative visualization and imaginative exploration. Just put on your headphones, and close your eyes. You’ll see.

For detailed information about Naturespace Holographic Audio, visit our website. Sign in to receive the latest info about new releases and giveaways.

Do you know of somewhere great we should record? Do you have a feature request? Join the Naturespace community by visiting our blog and tell us about it! And please, use the reviews as they are intended, as a forum to help others decide whether to download the app or not. We cannot respond to you there, so do not ask us questions that way. Thank you!!!

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2012/01/11/naturespace-updated-with-new-tracks-and-features/feed/0Animoog released on the iPhonehttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2011/12/21/animoog-released-on-the-iphone/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2011/12/21/animoog-released-on-the-iphone/#commentsWed, 21 Dec 2011 22:01:06 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=63005Animoog, billed as the first professional synthesizer designed for the iPad and one of the apps used to create this awesome music video, has just released for the iPhone. Packed with plenty of features and backed by Moog technology, Animoog lets musicians create a wide range of synthetic sounds. Powered by Moog’s new Anisotropic Synth Engine … Read more]]>

Animoog, billed as the first professional synthesizer designed for the iPad and one of the apps used to create this awesome music video, has just released for the iPhone. Packed with plenty of features and backed by Moog technology, Animoog lets musicians create a wide range of synthetic sounds.

Powered by Moog’s new Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE), Animoog allows you to move dynamically through an X/Y space of unique timbres to create a constantly evolving and expressive soundscape.

Animoog captures the vast sonic vocabulary of Moog synthesizers and applies it to the modern touch surface paradigm, enabling you to sculpt incredibly fluid and dynamic sounds that live, breathe, and evolve as you play them.

To celebrate its release, Animoog on the iPad is now on sale for $9.99 (down from $29.99) and the newly released iPhone version is available at the introductory price of $0.99 (regularly $9.99). Check out the demo videos of Animoog on the iPad in action after the break.

Press Release

ASHEVILLE, NC – DECEMBER 21, 2011 – Moog Music today announced the release of Animoog for the Apple iPhone 4 and 4s. Previously only available for the iPad 1 and 2, Animoog for iPhone is now available on the iTunes App Store at an introductory price of only $.99. After Animoog for iPhone’s promotional pricing period ends, the price will rise to $9.99.

Animoog was the first professional synthesizer designed for Apple’s iPad, and was the first music app in history to reach the number one spot of paid apps on the iTunes App Store on its first day of release. Additionally, Apple named Animoog one of the best iPad music apps of the year in it’s 2011 App Store Rewind, and Macworld named Animoog one of its three top iOS music apps

Animoog was a featured panel topic at Moogfest 2011 in Asheville, NC where artists Moby and Richard Devine discussed how they use it in their music productions, in front of a large audience of Moog fans. Additionally, the band The Flaming Lips performed the solo from the song “Lucky Man” on Animoog, live at Moogfest.

“We are very excited about the release of Animoog for iPhone” said Mike Adams, president and CEO of Moog Music, Inc. “While the hardware is smaller, users can expect the same amazing sound and intuitive user interface. A professional synthesizer now actually fits in your pocket.”

Animoog removes the boundaries of conventional instruments and brings an exciting array of creative tools to users’ fingertips. Much more than a simple app, Animoog takes full advantage of the iPad and iPhone 4’s multi-touch surface like no other instrument. Play a chord and modulate each note independently of one another, add vibrato and sweep the filter on one note in a chord with no effort at all and much, much more. Animoog gives users the creative freedom to create and intimately control an entire sonic universe. It is the ultimate tool for total creative expression.

In addition to offering Animoog for iPhone 4 at an introductory price of $.99, Moog is also offering it’s other iOS apps, Animoog for iPad and Filtatron, at special sale prices of $9.99 and $4.99, respectively.

Key Features:

· Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE) - An exciting new Moog technology that allows the user to move dynamically through an X/Y space of unique timbres to create an expressive and constantly evolving soundscape.

· Timbre page – Assemble unique sounds in the X/Y space from timbres of a wide variety of vintage and modern Moog synthesizers and pedals Note: this is NOT simple sample playback.

· Polyphonic Modulation – Users simply slide their fingers to control multiple modulation parameters in Animoog right from the keys.

· Polyphonic Pitch Shifting – Users asily manipulate the exact pitch of each note in a chord by rotating or sliding their fingers.

Moog Music synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments are designed and lovingly handcrafted in the Moog factory in downtown Asheville, N.C. Moog Music and its customers carry on the legacy of Dr. Robert Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer and Founder of Moog Music Inc.

… Read more]]>http://www.touchmyapps.com/2011/12/21/animoog-released-on-the-iphone/feed/0Smule releases Magic Guitar for iPhonehttp://www.touchmyapps.com/2011/12/15/smule-releases-magic-guitar-for-iphone/
http://www.touchmyapps.com/2011/12/15/smule-releases-magic-guitar-for-iphone/#commentsThu, 15 Dec 2011 20:04:10 +0000http://www.touchmyapps.com/?p=62604Smule has released yet another unique music app for the iPhone – this time, the Magic Guitar. Following in the footsteps of other Smule apps like Ocarina and Magic Piano, Magic Guitar gives you the chance to rock out on your iPhone even if you’ve never played the guitar before. Get ready to rock! Unleash your inner rocker … Read more]]>

Smule has released yet another unique music app for the iPhone – this time, the Magic Guitar. Following in the footsteps of other Smule apps like Ocarina and Magic Piano, Magic Guitar gives you the chance to rock out on your iPhone even if you’ve never played the guitar before.

Get ready to rock! Unleash your inner rocker with Magic Guitar, and you’ll be shredding like a legend in no time. Simply hold your phone like a guitar neck, and beams of light help you play the greatest guitar songs your own way. You control the notes, speed, guitar type, pitch and vibrato. Play it once, play it a hundred times, each time is a unique experience that won’t get old.

Magic Guitar’s songbook offers tunes from various artists, including The Rolling Stones, Bruno Mars, Incubus, Santana, Coldplay and much more. The app’s free to download and comes with a number of songs to get you started, while more from your favorite artists can be unlocked via IAP. And you can earn new songs by simply playing Magic Guitar and unlocking various achievements. Take a look at the promo videos after the break (including one by Smule co-founder showing off the app).

App Description

Get ready to rock! Unleash your inner rocker with Magic Guitar, and you’ll be shredding like a legend in no time. Simply hold your phone like a guitar neck, and beams of light help you play the greatest guitar songs your own way. You control the notes, speed, guitar type, pitch and vibrato. Play it once, play it a hundred times, each time is a unique experience that won’t get old.

PLAY LEGENDARY GUITAR SONGS YOUR WAY
Jam on your favorite rock, classical, folk and pop songs with your new guitar – no practice necessary.
• Simply touch the lights to play all styles of music, from soulful jams to scorching shred.
• Express your creativity and shake your phone to create vibrato, or drag your fingers to bend the pitch.
• Choose from different guitar sounds and speeds to make each song your own.

Make sure to come back frequently to get free songs – new free songs added regularly!

SHARE YOUR SHREDS WITH THE WORLD
Share your best jams on the interactive Smule globe, or through Twitter, Facebook or email.
• Hang out on the Smule globe and listen to other Magic Guitarists rocking out.
• Share the love – gift your friends any song from within the app to double the fun.

SCORE YOUR WAY TO THE TOP
Once you’ve mastered your new guitar, get rewarded for playing.
• Level up to unlock achievements and badges, earn new songs and make your way to the top of the song leader boards.